nymphs

 As a gift exchange for a meeting of a group of mixed-media textile artists – and inspired by an image someone showed me from Pinterest – I fabricated a whimsical lady set inside a small box: the head, torso and arm were cut from paper and clothed in a scrap of fabric, and the skirt was of silk rose petals. 

Subsequently, with my new-found interest in sculpting polymer clay, I created a larger version with head and arms of clay, whose body was fabric and flower petals. Better, but still unsatisfying. Then I went on to sculpt (with the aid of one of my father’s books on figure drawing) the back-view of the head and torso (full head, arms and back)., Then I added a draping of a long strip of fabric and petals. The lower part of the body became a sinuous line of petals, leaves and a flower. Thus began the Nymphs. 

I am fascinated by the musculature of the body (remembering the wondrous forms created by the Renaissance artists whose work I have always loved), the sinuous curves created by the flow of leaves and petals, and the vibrancy of color combination and contrast created by fabric and embellishment. Also, these give me a delightful opportunity to challenge and expand my repertoire of embroidery stitches.